Right about now is when the NHL's non-playoff teams call up some kids to get a look at what they can do.

After all, what’s a mistake here or there when it’s really only about pride for which you’re playing?

That said, the Flyers — who are 11 points out of a playoff spot with only eight games to play — don’t plan on promoting anyone in these last few weeks of the season. There are a couple reasons for that.

One, they’ve already used up two of the four call-up moves they can make after the March 2 NHL trade deadline.

And two, there really isn’t anybody knocking the door down at the moment to play with the big club.

General manager Ron Hextall has already brought up defenseman Brandon Manning and center Nick Cousins recently due to injuries, so he’s gotten a look at them.

Earlier, forward Petr Straka played here briefly and goaltender Anthony Stolarz came aboard on an emergency basis when both Ray Emery and Rob Zepp were hurt, although the New Jersey native did not get into game action.

Then there was Scott Laughton, who played 31 games in Philly but suffered a concussion in a January game against the Washington Caps, was never quite the same player after that and has been playing with the Phantoms since.

In a telephone conversation on Monday, Hextall said he doesn’t want to use up the two “call-ups’’ unless he has to.

“You don’t want to use them up now and not have any,’’ Hextall said. “There’s also issues where you’re looking and saying OK, who has earned a call-up over the course of the year, and I think the two guys who have been up recently have in Manning and Cousins, who’s up right now.

“Do I envision (other players)? Probably not at this point for a quick look.’’

One player who probably would have fit this potential role is defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, but he’s still recovering from ACL surgery in November.

The Union College alumnus held his own in two games with the Flyers back at the start of the season.

“Gostisbehere’s got his (medical) appointment this Wednesday,’’ Hextall said. “So we’re going to know for sure if he’s going to play or not.’’

The feeling in the organization seems to be that Stolarz needs at least another year at the AHL level before he’s possibly ready to be promoted to Steve Mason’s backup.

In the meantime, Zepp was impressive enough to make some think that he could challenge Emery for the No. 2 role next year.

Meanwhile, Hextall sounds optimistic about the play of defense prospects Samuel Morin (Rimouski, QMJHL) and Robert Hagg (Phantoms).

“Robert’s played in the American league as a 19-year-old, which is a tough task,’’ Hextall said. “I think overall we’re happy with his progress. He needs to continue to work and become more consistent . . . learn the little nuances of playing defense and playing a North American game, but overall we’re happy with his progress.

“I think Sam, for the most part . . . obviously he had the injury (broken jaw last fall), but he played in the World Juniors, and I think he has progressed like we’d hoped.’’Season’s turning point

Hextall acknowledged the Flyers’ particularly painful loss in Boston on March 7 derailed the team’s run at a playoff spot.

The Flyers held a 2-1 lead in that game until the final 14 seconds when the Bruins tied and won it in overtime.

A win that day would have cut Boston’s lead to just two points. Philadelphia has gone 1-4-3 since that loss.

“Well, it certainly appears like that right now,’’ Hextall said. “It’s always a hypothetical theory, I guess, when you look at instances of times in the year, turning points, so to speak, that have turned your season. I think right now it appears that’s been a factor.’’Summer priorities

One area the Flyers will have to address this summer is their scoring. Their goal production has been down almost a half-goal per game from the previous season, but Hextall isn’t thinking in those terms yet.

“It’s a little premature,’’ he said. “We’re in the midst of the season right now and obviously along the way I have my thoughts, but we have some work to do to figure out where we need to improve and stuff. We’re not there yet.

“I’m kind of staying focused on this year and our American league team and our prospects. We’ve got a lot going on right now, so once the season’s over, you’ve got lots of time to assess those things.’’Consistency key

Hextall reiterated that consistency was his team’s biggest weakness this season.

“I don’t believe our effort has been an area where you could say we have a problem here in terms of flat-out effort,’’ he commented. “I think consistency has been our biggest issue. I think you see certain games and we play real well. Then there’s other games where we’re just off our game. But again, I wouldn’t say effort is a problem here. We’ve got a pretty good group of people.’’Rule change proposals

Several rule changes have been proposed by NHL general managers and Hextall likes a couple of them.

“The one I like is the overtime going to three on three,’’ Hextall said. “I prefer the American league version four on four moving to three on three.

“Quite frankly, the goalie interference as well, the coach’s challenge. When you sit in a room and hear the positives and negatives, I think that could be a positive for our game. I think there’s about a dozen instances this year where the call would have been overturned to the correct call. So those are the two I like.’’